Teen Charged in Seattle Festival Shooting Awaits Trial
Authorities have charged a 15-year-old boy in connection with a deadly shootout at a Seattle food festival. The incident occurred at the Bite of Seattle on July 26, where gunfire resulted in three deaths and four injuries, including a 2-year-old child.
The teen’s lawyer claims he acted in self-defense. According to court documents, the teen reportedly pulled a handgun out of a pouch and returned fire when two unidentified suspects shot at him and his friend. The shooting sent festival attendees fleeing from the Seattle Center Armory near the Space Needle.
Police have described the incident as gang-related, with innocent bystanders caught in the exchange. Among the dead are 19-year-old Niko-Semo, a man aged 44, and a woman aged 56.
At present, the 15-year-old remains the sole person charged with the shooting incident. While police continue their investigation, no additional suspects have been formally accused.
Investigators have scrutinized 450 hours of video footage and identified two persons of interest, according to Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles. However, police have not confirmed if these individuals fired weapons.
The teen’s public defender, Hong Tran, said eyewitness accounts support that the boy only reached for his firearm after being shot at. The teen claims, “I was getting shot at,” as reported in defense filings. Prosecutors, contrastingly, argue that the teen acted recklessly and endangered the festival crowd.
Court records reveal charges against the teen, including first-degree assault and unlawfully possessing a firearm as a minor. The firearm, a Polymer80 “ghost gun” with an extended magazine, lacked a serial number and had a personalized plate, “1 SHOT 1 KILL.”
The judge has denied the defense’s request to release the teen under electronic monitoring, keeping him in custody. Prosecutors will request a judge to move the trial to adult court in November. The teen is scheduled for a status hearing in juvenile court in October.
The shooting incident led to criticism of the city’s response. Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes resigned after discussions with Mayor Katie Wilson. Barnes defended his actions, asserting he followed protocol.